Wool 



63 



Fig. 2, A and B, Lincoln andMMeiino fleeces are analysed for 

 fineness of fibre and levelness of staple. It will be noticed 

 that after skirting the fleece, three, four or five grades of wool 

 may be made according to the standard of uniformity required 

 by the manufacturer. 



The last illustration naturally leads one to refer to the 

 varieties of wool produced by the difi'erent breeds of sheep. 

 Each typ'cal breed produces a characteristic wool which may 

 be fine, medium or coarse — within its own limits — according to 

 its position on the animal. Hence fine Lincoln must not be 

 compared with fine^Down w^ool, nor must coarse Dov^n wool 



Fig. L— Wool Staples from i A) Haunches ; (B) Shoulder. 



be compared with fine Lincoln wool — for the Down wools are 

 crisp and frizzy and curly, and the Lincolns are long and 

 straight and lustrous. 



In the British Isles there are really two dominating 

 breeds of sheep from the wool point of view, each with 

 many and valuable varieties, each producing a characteristic 

 wool ; these are : — 



(1) Lincoln and Leicester sheep, producing what are 

 termed the long lustre wools ; and 



(2) Down sheep, producing relatively fine, fuzzy, curly 

 wools. 



